22 more terrorists killed

QUETTA:

Security forces continued large-scale counterterrorism and sanitisation operations across Balochistan, killing 22 more terrorists during overnight follow-up actions, taking the total number of terrorists eliminated over the past three days to at least 177.

Officials said that the operations were launched in response to coordinated attacks carried out on Saturday across several districts of the province, targeting security installations and civilian areas, prompting sustained clearance actions by security forces, intelligence agencies and police.

The campaign involves cordon-and-sweep and follow-up operations at multiple locations, with security forces tightening the noose around terrorists and their facilitators. Sources added that further losses have been inflicted upon militant networks during the ongoing actions.

Earlier, addressing a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the crackdown as one of the most extensive intelligence-based operations conducted within such a short period, following the assaults claimed by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, on Saturday, terrorists launched coordinated attacks at several locations, including Quetta, Mastung, Noshki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni, triggering prolonged standoffs and clearance operations by security forces.

The military said 92 terrorists were killed on the first day of operations, while 18 civilians lost their lives and 15 security personnel "fought gallantly and embraced martyrdom" during clashes across the province. Bugti on Sunday updated the number, saying the 145 terrorists had been killed.

Bugti accused terrorists of deliberately targeting civilians and damaging surveillance infrastructure, including Safe City cameras in Quetta, and said terrorists used women and children as human shields, citing incidents in Gwadar and Quetta during the attacks.